Play It Again Daddy
Marie .M, Indiana, USA
April 2001
When I was eleven, I thought everything would always be okay. Until my father was shot and killed all because of a wallet that only held enough for him to get a pack of cigarettes.
Things were very hard after that. My mom slept most of the day away, because she worked nights at a local Walgreens. You couldn't tell that my father ever had lived there when you walked into my house. My mother had either sold or thrown away most of his things. She told me that seeing his things around the house would make her cry. I said I didn't mind, but only if she kept the medium sized piano that my grandfather had made for my dad when he was seven. My mother said all right, but we had to keep it in the basement. I was so very happy because my father would always sit me on his lap before bed, and play Mary had a little lamb.I had even named it "Daddy's piano".
One night my mother went to work at around 10 o'clock at night. It was Friday, so I stayed up until midnight, then I went to bed. I was just about to fall asleep when I heard music playing softly. Thinking it was just my imagination I tried to go back to sleep, but the music would not go away. I was so scared at that moment that I grabbed my pillow and blanket, ran into my mothers room, and fell asleep. I woke up the next morning and ate breakfast. I thought it was odd that she didn't ask me why I slept in her bed, but I thought nothing of it really.
The music would not go away. Every Friday when my mom went to work, I would hear the music and end up sleeping in my moms bedroom.
One Friday, after my mom had left for work, I decided that when the music began to play I would find out where it was coming from. I sat in my bed until around twelve thirty, then I heard the music. I got up from my bed and began to look everywhere. Finally I remembered daddy's piano. I crept downstairs, feeling very afraid. I stopped when I reached the bottom stair. There, sitting at the piano was a light. I was so afraid until I realised the song, it was Mary had a little lamb. At that moment, all my fear was washed away, and only the best feelings were the ones I felt. I remember saying "daddy? Is that you?". When I asked that I had a strong feeling as if everything was going to be okay. Then the music stopped and the light disappeared. I then walked upstairs and into my room and fell asleep. I never told my mother what happened because I was sure that she would not have believed me.
Do you know what? Life did get better. My mom got a much better job, and she met and married a really nice guy. I will always remember that time in the basement. I will always remember my dad and how he made me feel so happy. Thank you for reading my story, and I love you dad.